TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- The City Council unanimously approved an agreement to accept a $28.5 million insurance settlement Tuesday to replace a municipal facility destroyed by the April 27, 2011, tornado.

In February, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox recommended that the City Council reject the offer, and the council held an executive session to discuss the city's legal options.

Maddox thanked city officials and City Attorney Tim Nunnally on Tuesday for their work in securing the settlement.

"It's been hard for people to understand (because) you don't see it every day just to know how long a process this has been," Maddox said. "It really is very satisfying to get to this conclusion and we look forward to rebuilding our facilities."

At the time of the tornado, the Curry Building housed several city departments and operations including the Tuscaloosa County Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Environmental Services and facilities maintenance.